Speaking on Sunday, Chancellor Angela Merkel announced the arms freeze in the wake of the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Bonn exported €416.4 million ($477.5) of weapons to Riyadh in the year to the end of September, making the kingdom Germany’s second-best arms customer after Algeria.

Meanwhile, several countries -- including Belgium, Greece and Norway -- have responded to public pressure by partly or suspending arms transfers to Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other coalition members.